SOLUTION: If a fraction is divided by 1 ¼ and them subtracted from 2 ½ gives the result of 1 7/10, what is the value of the fractions?

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: If a fraction is divided by 1 ¼ and them subtracted from 2 ½ gives the result of 1 7/10, what is the value of the fractions?      Log On


   

Question 1164487: If a fraction is divided by 1 ¼ and them
subtracted from 2 ½ gives the result
of 1 7/10, what is the value of the
fractions?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I believe you mean this:
----------------------------------------------
If a fraction is divided by 1 ¼ and them THEN
THAT IS subtracted from 2 ½ gives the result
of 1 7/10, what is the value of the
fractions?
-----------------------------------------------

R, the fraction wanted
highlight_green%282%261%2F2-R%2F%285%2F4%29=1%267%2F10%29----------Solve for R.



--------No. Not this. Mistaken Interpretation is below-------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------

R, the fraction, ratio of two numbers

R%2F%281%261%2F4%29=R%2F%285%2F4%29=%284%2F5%29R


"Them", would be R and %284%2F5%29R.


"them subtracted from ,..." would become
2%261%2F2-R-%284%2F5%29R=1%261%2F7-------------------simplify and solve this for R.

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The language used in the statement of the problem is very poor, leading to different possible interpretations of the problem.

"If a fraction is divided by 1 ¼ and them (sic) subtracted from 2 ½ gives the result of 1 7/10, what is the value of the fractions?"

Rewrite like this:

A fraction is divided by 1 ¼ and the result is subtracted from 2 ½, giving the result of 1 7/10. What is the fraction?

Dividing a number by 1 1/4 = 5/4 is equivalent to multiplying it by 4/5. So after dividing by 1 1/4, the fraction is 4/5 of its original value.

So 2 1/2, minus 4/5 of the original fraction, is equal to 1 7/10.

Then 4/5 of the original fraction is 2 1/2 minus 1 7/10, or 8/10, or 4/5.

It is then obvious that the original fraction was 1.

ANSWER: The original fraction was 1.

CHECK:
1 divided by 1 1/4 = 1 times 4/5 = 4/5.

2 1/2 - 4/5 = 2 5/10 = 8/10 = 1 7/10.